title: Radiation injury of the parotid glands during treatment for head and neck cancer: assessment using dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.
abstract: The parotid gland is an important organ at risk of complications of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. In this study, we examined the potential of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) for assessment of radiation injury to the parotid glands. DCE-MRI was performed before and 3 months after radiotherapy in patients treated for head and neck cancer. DCE-MRI was analyzed using the pharmacokinetic model proposed by Tofts and Kermode to produce three DCE parameters: k(trans), v(e) and v(p). These parameters were correlated with the dose of radiation delivered to the parotid glands and the degree of radiation-induced parotid atrophy. The mean radiation dose received by the parotid glands was 47.1 ± 6.6 Gy. All patients received concurrent chemotherapy. There was a significant rise in all three parameters after therapy (P < 0.0001). Baseline v(e) and v(p) and the post-treatment rise in v(e) correlated with parotid gland atrophy (P  =  0.0008, 0.0003 and 0.0022, respectively). DCE-MRI has the potential to be used as a non-invasive technique for predicting and assessing radiation injury in the parotid glands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging, Prince of Wales Hospital, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR. leekarhof@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Francis Kar-ho
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ann Dorothy
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Michael Koon-ming
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: Brigette Buig-yue
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: David Ka-wai
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Yeung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003287:Contrast Media; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media